Structural bridging



Sept. 23, 1969 uss ET AL 3,468,093

STRUCTURAL BRIDGING Filed Feb. 20, 1967 lNVE/W'OAZ? JJMES & F055 United States 3,468,093 STRUCTURAL BRIDGING James B. Fuss, 3245 Enon Road, College Park, Ga. 30022, and John S. Frye, 3098 Trafalgar, Chamblee, Ga. 30005 Filed Feb. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 617,250 Int. Cl. E04g 7/14 US. Cl. 52-665 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the construction of walls and similar structures where beams are arranged to extend in upward, parallel disposition, it is usually difficult and expensive to rigidly attach the upper or free ends of the beams to one another in a spaced, parallel relation. In the past, this type of bridging between the spaced beams was accomplished with separate beams or struts extending between the upper ends of the upwardly extending beams. This was accomplished by notching or furring the upwardly extending beams, or welding the beams together, or both, so that the members would fit together with a rigid connection. This form of construction generally had to be accomplished at the building site which resulted in a lack of continuity of the various bridging structures, poor alignment of the vertically extending beams, weakening of the beams or struts in the areas which were notched or furred and high cost of construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to structural bridging adapted to extend between parallel beams in a building structure, such as a wall, wherein the beams include a central web and holding members disposed on each side of the central web and the bridging includes a bridging bar extending between the central webs of adjacent beams, or through apertures defined in the central webs of a plurality of aligned beams, and bridging clips of generally triangular configuration, each of which defines a semicircular notch, at the midpoint of one of its sides, which surrounds a portion of the bridging bar. The bridging clips are held fast to the beams by the holding members, and to the bridging bar by a connecting member, such as a screw.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide bridging for beams in parallel disposition wherein the beams will be held in spaced relation with respect to one another.

Another object of this invention is to provide bridging for building structures wherein adjacent parallel beams are rigidly connected to one another.

Another object of this invention is to provide bridging for the free ends of parallel beams of a building structure wherein the free ends of the beams will be spaced apart a predetermined distance and prevented from twisting or otherwise rotating.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure for connecting together portions of parallel beams in a building structure wherein the portions of the beams are maintained in spaced apart relationship and in alignment with each other.

Another object of this invention is to provide an expedient and economical method in which to maintain beams in a building structure spaced apart a predetermined distance.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the overall view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bridging clip;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the bridging clip;

FIG. 3 is an end view, taken in cross-section, of the bridging bar;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view of a beam in a building structure, showing the bridging clip and bridging bar connected thereto;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a beam in a building structure, with parts broken away, and showing the bridging clip and bridging bar connected thereto;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of adjacent beams of a building structure showing the manner in which bridging clips and a bridging bar are connected thereto.

DESCRIPTION Referring now more particularly to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a bridging clip 10' generally of right isosceles triangular configuration, which includes sides 11 and 12 of equal length and side 13. The angle defined between sides 11 and 12 is approximately while the angles defined between sides 11 and 13 and sides 12 and 13 are approximately 45". Of course, side 13 forms the hypotenuse of the triangular bridging clip. A substantially semi-circular notch 15 is defined at the midpoint of the side 13 of the bridging clip 10.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, the perimeter of bridging clip 10 terminates in an upwardly extending flange 16 which extends over the entire length of sides 11 and 12 and over the portion of side 13 not occupied by the semicircular notch 15. The perimeter of semicircular notch 15 is bound by a locking flange or tab 18 which extends outwardly beyond flange 16 of the side 13 of the bridging clip. Locking tab 18 is provided with apertures 19 and 20 equally spaced, respectively, between its centerline 21 and its edges 22 and 23.

While notch 15 and locking tab 18 are generally semicircular in configuration, the center 25 of the radius of curvature 26 of that portion of the notch 15 and locking tab 18 between the centerline 21 and edge 22 is displaced to the right (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of centerline 21, while the center 28 of the radius of curvature 29 of that portion of the notch 15 and locking tab 18 between center line 21 and edge 23 is positioned to the left of the centerline 21. This construction has the effect of placing a slight bend 30 in the notch 15 and locking tab 18 at the centerline 21 of the bridging clip 10.

While the locking tab 18 and flange 16 extend upwardly from one surface 31 of the bridging clip, the 0pposite surface 32 is generally fiat, having no flanges or other protrusions extending therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 3, bridging bar 35 is generally of rounded, U-shaped configuration and includes center section 36, and side sections 37 and 38. Centerline 39 extends through the midpoint of center section 36 and through the geometric center of the bridging bar 35. Sections 36, 37, and 38 have the same radius of curvature; however, the center 40 of the radius of curvature 41 of center section 36 is located on the centerline 39 beyond the center of the bridging bar 35, the center 42 f the radius of curvature 43 of side section 37 is located to the right side (FIG. 3) of centerline 39, and the center 44 of the radius of curvature 45 of side section 38 is located to the left of centerline 39. With this construction, bends 47 and 48 are formed in the surface of bridging bar 35, at the intersection of center section 36 with side section 37, and at the intersection of center section 36 with side section 38.

The radii of curvature 41, 42 and 43 of the outside surface of the bridging bar 35 are approximately equal to the radii 26 and 29 of the inner surface of notch 15 and locking tab 18 of the bridging clip 10. Also, the centers 42 and 44 of the radii of curvature 43 and 45 of side sections 37 and 38 of bridging bar 35 are offset from the center 40 of center section 36 a distance substantially equal to the distance the centers 25 and 28 of the radii of curvature of the bridging clip 10 are offset from each other. Thus, the internal surface of locking tab 18 is similar in configuration to the external surface of side section 37 and center section 36 of the bridging bar 35, or side section 38 and center section 36 of the bridging bar.

Bridging bar 35 defines along its length a series of equally spaced apertures 50 located along the centerline of center section 36.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, and 6, a series of bridging clips and a bridging bar 35 are shown connected to beams 51. Beams 51 are generally I-shaped in cross section and include a central web 52 and end flanges 53 and 54, respectively, on each side of web 52. Holding members 55 and 56 comprise a flange 57 and 58, respectively, Which define with web 52 slots 59 and 60. Flanges 57 and 58 extend toward the center of the beam 51 and toward each other, and slots 59 and 60 extend substantially the entire length of the beam.

As is best shown in FIG. 4, the web 52 of each beam 51 defines a plurality of central apertures 61 spaced along its length. Apertures 61 are circular, and. their radii are substantially equal to the radii 41, 43 and 45 of bridging bar 35. Thus, the diameter of central apertures 61 of beams 51 is larger than the outside diameter of bridging bars 35.

ASSEMBLY When it is desired to form bridging between parallel extending beams, a plurality of beams 51 are arranged to extend upwardly from a support or base (not shown) so that their upper ends are positioned as is shown in FIG. 6. A bridging bar 35 is inserted through one of the apertures 61 in the endmost beam 51, and then through corresponding apertures in others of the parallel disposed beams. When the bridging bar 35 is positioned approximately as desired, it is rotated so that its apertures 50 are located on its upper surface and side sections 37 and 38 extend downwardly from center section 36 (FIG. 3). Bridging clips 10 are then inserted into slots 59 and 60 (FIG. 5) of beams 51, with their flat surfaces 32 adjacent the webs 52 of the beams, by sliding the bridging clips into the slots from their open ends, or by turning bridging clips 10 so that the smallest width is disposed between flanges 57 and 58, moving the bridging clips between flanges 57 and 58 until they are in the vicinity of slots 59 and 60, and then turning bridging clips 10 until one side 11 or 12 is received in one slot 59 or 60', and the corner opposite the side placed in the slot is received in the opposite slot.

When a bridging clip is properly connected to the endmost beam 51 of a plurality of parallel beams, one of its apertures 19 or 20 will be in alignment with one of the apertures 50 of bridging bar 35. A screw 65 or other attachment means will be inserted through the aligned apertures to positively connect the bridging clip 10 to the bridging bar 35. When the bridging clip is to be attached to the bridging bar and the next adjacent beam 51 in the series of beams, the next adjacent beam is moved about bridging bar 35 until it is approximately parallel to the endmost beam 51 and until an aperture of bridging bar 35 is disposed in proper relationship with the beam, whereupon another bridging clip 10 is connected thereto. At this point a rigid connection is made between the adjacent beams so that they will not move or rotate with respect to each other.

When connecting together subsequent ones of the adjacent beams, if the beams have been placed apart at equal spaces at their bases, proper spacing at their upper ends can be maintained by merely counting the apertures 50 in the bridging bar between the first adjacent bridging clips, and spacing the remaining bridging clips a corresponding number of apertures apart.

It should be noted that the flange 16 which extends about the perimeter of each bridging clip 10 tends to remforce the bridging clip, and the width of flange 16 is approximately equal to the width of slots 59 and so that the flange 16 functions to force the flat surface 32 of bridging clip 10 against the surface of Web 52 of beam 51. Thus, the web 52 and the flat surface 32 of the bridging clip 10 tend to reinforce each other. Also, the exterior surface of bridging bar 35 and interior surface of locking tab 18 conform to each other in shape so that they tend to reinforce each other. Since tab 18 defines apertures 19 and 20 centrally disposed on each side of centerline 21, bridging clip 10 can be disposed on either side of bridging bar 35, with either aperture 19 or 20 mating with one of the apertures 50 of the bridging bar 35.

While the bridging structure disclosed herein has been set forth as connected to the ends of beams 51, it should be obvious that bridging clip 10 and bridging bar 35 can be connected to other portions of beams 51 intermediate their ends. Also, while a particular configuration of beams 51 has been set forth, it should be noted that the bridging of the instant invention is connectable to other type beams. All that is necessary in the beam structure is the presence of locking members or slots.

While the beams 51 have been disclosed as defining apertures 61 in their webs 52, it should be understood that the bridging structure is connectable to adjacent beams Without the necessity of apertures 61. For instance, a pair of beams 51 may be disposed in parallel, side-bys de relationship with their slots 59 and 60 on adjacent sides, and bridging clip 10 inserted into the slot, as prevrously described. Bridging bar 35 can then be connected to bridging clip 10 by means of a screw or other connecting means 65. In order that the bridging clip 10 not slide down the length of beams 51, it may be necesary to cut bridging bar 35 to a length so that the portion extending between the screw of locking tab 18 and web 52 of beam 51 is sufficient to engage web 52 and form a friction connection therewith.

While beams 51 have been disclosed as having locking members 55 and 56 on both sides of web 52, it is obvious that locking members may be disposed only on one side of web 52 and a single bridging clip 10 can be connected to the bridging bar 35. Furthermore, if beams 51 are constructed with looking members 55 and 56 on both sides of their web 52, bridging clips 10 can be connected to the bridging bar 35 on either or both sides of beams 51.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. Bridging for a plurality of parallel disposed beams each including holding members, said bridging comprising a bridging bar for extension between adjacent beams and bridging clips connectable to said bridging bar and the holding members of said beams, wherein said bridging bar is of rounded U configuration in cross section and includes a central section and side sections extending from each side of said central section, said central section and side sections being constructed with equal radii of curvature with the centers of curvature of each section being offset from each other in such a manner that the diameter of said bridging bar is smaller than twice the radius of curvature of any one of its sections, and said center section defines a plurality of equally spaced apart apertures along its centerline;

said bridging clip comprises a fiat base portion of generally right isosceles triangular configuration and includes a flange extending around a major portion of its perimeter, a notch defined in the side of said clip forming the hypotenuse thereof and a locking tab extending normal to said base portion and about said notch, said notch and said locking tab defining a concave surface having portions with equal radii of curvature and offset centers of curvature co'nforming in shape to the exterior surface of said central section and one of said side sections of the bridging bar, said locking tab defining apertures equally spaced between its centerline and its edge; and

a connecting member for insertion through one of the apertures of the bridging clip and one of the apertures of the bridging bar;

whereby said bridging bar is extended between adjacent beams, said bridging clip inserted into said holding members in such a manner that its locking tab is juxtaposed with said central section and one of said side sections of the bridging bar and said connecting member is inserted through one of the apertures of said bridging clip and one of the apertures of said bridging bar.

2. Bridging for a plurality of parallel disposed beams each including holding members, said bridging comprising a bridging bar for extension between adjacent beams and bridging clips connectable to said bridging bar and the holding members of said beams, wherein each of said beams comprises a central web portion, end flange members disposed perpendicular to said web portion and central flange members connected to and extending inwardly of said end flange members on one side of said web portion to form oppositely facing slots,

said bridging clips each comprising a triangular shaped base adapted to be inserted into said slots, said base defining a recess in one of its edges, and a locking tab extending outwardly from said base about said recess; and

said bridging bar extending between adjacent ones of said beams, said bridging bar being received within the recesses and locking tabs of the bridging clips.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said beams defines at least one aperture in its web portion and said bridging bar extends through said apertures.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the outside radius of said bridging bar is substantially equal to the inside radius of said recess of the bridging clip, and the radius of the apertures of said beams is larger than the outside radius of said bridging bar.

5. Bridging for a plurality of parallel disposed beams each including holding members, said bridging comprising a bridging bar for extension between adjacent beams and bridging clips connectable to said bridging bar and the holding members of said beams, wherein said bridging. bar comprises a rectilinear bar defining a slot extending along its length and including a central section extending along its length opposite said slot, a first side section extending between said central section and said slot and a second side section extending between said central section and said slot, said central section and said first side section and said second side section each having substantially equal radii of curvature and with the centers of each radius being ofiset from one another and wherein each of said bridging clips includes a concave locking member extending parallel to said bridging bar having a first portion and a second portion, each of said first and second portions having substantially equal radii of curvature which are also substantially equal to the radii of curvature of said sections of said bridging bar with the centers of curvature of each radius for said portions being offset from one another in correspondence with the centers of radii for said sections of said bridging bar for said locking member to lie in juxtaposition with the sections of said bridging bar when said bar and said clips are in position on said beams.

6. A bridging arrangement for a plurality of parallel disposed beams, each beam having a central web portion defining a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough along the length of the beam, comprising:

a bridging bar having a configuration such that said bar is freely receivable through any of the corresponding apertures through said beams;

holding means carried by each of said beams and spaced on opposite sides of said apertures and parallel to each other;

bridging clip means slidably received by said holding means and including locking means positionable adjacent any selected one of said apertures in each beam and connectable to said bridging bar to displace said bridging bar against the side of said aperture through which said bar passes to lock said bar with respect to each beam; and

means for connecting said bridging bar to said locking means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 459,051 9/1891 Streeter 182-228 788,442 4/1905 Vintschger.

905,142 12/1908 Bond 182228 1,961,781 6/1934 Reagle 182228 3,371,454 3/1968 Anderson 52-665 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,067,330 6/1924 France.

579,252 6/1933 Germany.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

